Thermostat.



A. A. PROEHLICH.

THERMOSTAT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 19,13.

Patented Dc. 15, 1914 ALBERT ANTON FROEHLICH, our ToLnbo, oHIo.

THERMOSTAT.

Application tiled January 18, '1913. Serial No.-'-?42,894.

To all whom it mag/concern.

Be it` known that I, ALBERT ANTON FRoEHLICH, a citizen of the United States, residing atToledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in -Thermostats, of' which the `following is a full, clear,`

and exact description.

This invention relates to thermostatic devices and more particularly to av'a'lve `con` struction which governs the flowof'the fluid whosemovement'is to be regulated.

More particularly, the purpose of the in- 4 vention is to provide a valve construction and operative adjuncts which will be. sensitive to changes of the thermostatic element and thereby give quick.v adjustment of the valve. I n

Generally speaking, the `invention comprises theelements and combinations there oflset forth in the accomIinying claims.

panying drawings, forming a portion of thisspecification, in wh1ch Y ,a A

Figure l is an elevation, partlyl in section ol? onelfor-m of the thermostatic'device and the valve casing showingthe valve in place;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing lthe same construction of. the valve;- Fig. 3is 'a top plan view of the valve casing; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional elevationjof a modified form of valve; Fig. 5 is alsoa sectional elevation of a still further mod ed-form of o valve; Fig. 6 is a plan viewfofla part of the valve shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a sec tion on line 6-6l of Fig. 4 in direction of the arrow. o

The construction herein outlined is more particularly intended to govern the flow of fuel gas to be turned beneath a receptacle containing some substance in which a thermostatic element is immersed.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 21 indicates `the casing which ,isprovided with a'centralhollow chamber 2,1

Specification of Letters Patent.

vPatented Dec. 15, 1914.

.yf-with asuitable head, it beingvuild'erstoodthat the position of this valve lstem inthe bypass 5 determines'the quantity;- of gas which may pass from`.the chamber to the bypass. Wit-hin the central chamber -2 Athere is a piston valve'lO which is provided with'a packing strip indicated at 10% .This

valve 10 has a close fit' with the walls of the chamber so thatf'no-gas may escape from above the valve tothe portion of the chamberbelow the -valv'e around theoutside of the valve itself. This'valve has a hollow interior portion and has an upwardly extending part 1l which is'hollow und is partially open so as to permit gas withinfthe upper part of the chamber-2 to pass through the vcenter of the valve 10. @'Tojthe projecting portion' l1 there is secured a threaded rod 12, the rod having -a swivelconnection with the portion 11. This rod extends through the tcp part of t e casing Land has a Reference should be hadA to theaccom-V threaded engagement with the 'opening' through Which it extends. The upper part .of the rod 1'?. is provided with a vnut 12:5,` or

also upon this rod a nut .14 by which the rod -may be locked' in itsvadjusted position.

AFrom the lower vpart of the valve disk 'l0 'there is a circular skirt depending, the low f edge of the skirt being'reduced in area so as to form a blunt edge., T'heblunt edge just referred to is adapted to cooperate-with a flexible' diaphragm 15,l whichdiaphragm l forms a partof agreceptacle lwhich is. adapted to hold some readily cxpansible substance `such as mercury. In the present-instance,

the thermostat comprises-a-bulb 16 having a pipe 17 extending"therefrom` This pipe communicates with a casing' "18 which has a hollow exterior, and one or more holes 1 9 which extcn'd from the interior of the casing ,to an outer surface thereof` against which surface .the flexible diaphragm 15 is adapted to lie. The functionA of the receptaclel, pipe 17 and casing 18, forming as they do a thermostatic device, is well knownl and needs no amplification. The diaphragm l5 may be secured upon the casing 18 in any desirable manner, it being simply necessary that the diaphragm be rigidly held at .the peripheral portions and free to extend and contract to coperate with the central' opening 1indicated' at 21, throughl which the central portion ci. snc may extend, The ring 1aY provi series of concentric r1 s liaphragm ed with a is also provided with ribs 23 which are concentric, The ribs 23 are so positioned Vas to be disposed opposite to the grooves between the ribs 22 when the casing 18, and the ring are securedV together. The diaphragm 1 is engaged by the ribs upon the members 18 and 20, and when these members are secured together, the diaphragm is very tightly held 'and prevents any creeping' The ring 20 and casing '18 may be secured together in :any desiredvmanne'r, and--forthe purpose I have indicated screws, one of which 1s seen at 24. The ring'20 secured to the casing; v1in any preferred manner, and for thisv purpose I have indicated screw bolts, one of which is indicatedl at 25. It'will be apparent from the construction illustrated that the ring 2O1and casing 18 may. be removed from the valve casing .without in any way distu'rbing-A the expansible materiall which is :Within the thermostatic device, which is- (uite 'ia-desirable feature, inasmuch as it is4 reguently desirable -to disasscmble the j anism, 'and it is quite inconvenient for the; f lierznostatic device and the 'expans1ble ig'iateriai.which it contains-areindanger of"I escapin .fr packing 25 is inserted between t e ring' and the valve casing to premerci y vent the escaping rif-gas. The -chambered ier portionfof vthe receptacle' 18 is closed portion thereof'bya vthreaded screw li: yh `bili a thermen-atie devise 4@mpio ing me ury assumes''that the :expansion o 'the f is relieduponand `that air 1ss'ub stantialiy all reinoved" from the device", In

1';- a thermosta-tic Adevice used in such-connection '-asuherein disclosed, it is difficult to removethepocket-of air which lies beneath the diaphragm. :To lill the thermostatic delvice- Withfnercury as shown in Fig'. 1 the ssimefgfttrned 9D-degrees `so that the screw plugf-26vqis1uppermost, the plug 26 removed andmerciiry poured in. Itwill be clear that thedanhragm 3.5. The

Q?,upon its lower side, while the adjacent -face of the casing 18` 11s lpermits the introd'uction of tlie nry for instance,sovthatthewholefsye'1 tengrcccptacle 16, pipe l'l and,v receptacle 18'- mav necompletelyv filledA with:v the Jmercury; "l be appreciated'- that the'dependa- 4raised an is pushed upward bythe expansion of. the mercury and according to the degree of eX pansion of the mercury, will approach the valve 10 and eventually-seat itself'against the valve to close the passage of gas. It will be understood that regulation o f the po- ,sition of the valve 10 in the chamber will efcct a variationin therelationaship bel tween the valve and the diaphragm 17.

vThat is to say, the valve will beclosed upon a greater or less 'expansion of the mercury,

according to the adjusted position ofv the valve 10. In this-manner, the regulation of the valve may be affected to regulate or stop the flow of as in accordance with the' con-A dition it is esired to maintain.v

In Fig. 2 at 5* there isindic'ated a. bypass which supplies gas in-lixni'ted' quantities to a pilot burner indicated at 5'". The flow of g gas is regulated by a valvev as indicatef'l'.' A

very sensitive form of valve is shown in Fig. f

4. The form Vof casingand the 'other' a juncts such as the flexible diaphragm.` are as substantially shown in Figs. 1' and 2'. Within the central valve chamber 27there is a hollow piston 28 which engages with the f side walls of the chamber. This hollow piston is supported by arod 29 in a manner similar to that previously described with respect to the other valves. The gas within the chamber may pass through the hollow piston in the' same manner as withthe valve l0.Y The lower portion'o'f the valve 32 is provided 'with"a 'depending skirt-30 vwhich surrounds'tand partially incluses a ball 131.

Thisskir't 30-is providedv with openings 3 0l near theupper` portion thereof, :which vwill thef off-gas from thel space within-.the valveiabove .the ball;v The ball 31 rests -upo'n the diaphragm `15 and will vbe ball is raised the proper amount, it will "seat against a ledge 3`2whichis vformed within Vthe\ valve 28 and in so seating,`it willv shut the `valve and discontinue the .flow of gas through the valve. vThis particular form of valveis verysensitive, inasmuch as the contact between the ball-and the diaphragm isa` single point, and furthermore, this point 1s substantially at VAthe highest portionof the V'expansion of the diaphragm. Consequently it will veryreadily and quicklyA respond to the pressure changes of the'm'ercu'ry.` f;

lowered asthfev diaphragm-is e X-' panded'a'nd contracteddue totheexpansion and contraction of the mercury. When the 'In the form of the valve shown-in Fig. 'A

fthe central'jchamber' is' provided with-a sliding Apiston valve 33 'wh'clivis hollow and is ,supported by a threadedv rod 34 whichengages with a threaded I opening in the casing in the same manner as has been described with respect tothe rod l2. Belowl the piston '-ilfre 33 and Within the chamber of the cassecondrave member, the same cornpris-lng a central portion 3i from 3U which radiate arms having curved surfaced portions, which bear 'a ainst the sides of the wall of the chamber. hose arms are spaced apart so as to permit the flow of gas between the same when the valve is open. The valve member 34 will rest upon the diaphragm 15 and will be raised and lowered as the diaphragm expands and contracts.. Upon the lower part of the piston valve is a dependin skirt having a blunt edge. This edge 1s adapted to seat against a washer carried upon the upper art of the valve member 34,- and thereby iscontinues the flow of gas through the valve 33.

Having described my invention, I claim: l. In a thermostatic uel regulator, a casing having a chamber therein, provided vwith openings at the upper and lower ends, a flexible diaphragm closing with one end of said chamber, a fluid pressure thermostat operating against one face of said diaphragm, a valve mechanism within the chamber of' the casing, said valve mechanism comprising a piston member which engages with the wall of the casing, said piston bein hollow and having openings at both ends t ereof, a ball engaging with the diaphragm and adapted to engage with and seat against the said piston member to close the opening therethrough, and a thermostatic device engaging the face of the diaphragm.

Q, En a thermostatic fuel regulator, a easing having a chamber' therein, there bein f openings to said 'chamber at the upper an lower portions thereof, a flexible diaphragm coperating with said chamber, a fluid pressure thermostatic device pressing against one face of the diaphragm, valve mechanism within said chamber comprising a piston which enga .es the chamber Walls', said piston being hol ow and open at both ends, a harige depending from said piston, a bali encircled by the flange, said ball engaging with the flexible diaphragm, the ball being adapted. to engage with a portion of the piston lo close the opening therethrough, und a thermostatic device engaging a face of the diaphragm.

Il In thermostatie fuel regulator, a casing having a chamber therein, provided with openings at the upper and lower ends, a flexible diaphragm closing with one end of said chamber, a fluid pressure thermostat operating against one face of said diaphragm, a valve mechanism within 'the cham er of the casing, said valve mechanism comprising a piston member which engages with the wall of the casing, said piston being hollow and having openings at both ends thereof, a ballengaging with the diaphragm and adapted to enga e with and seat against the said piston mem er to close the opening therethrough and a luid pressure thermostat engaging the opposite face of the diaphragm.

4. ln a thermostatic fuel regulator, a casing having a chamber therein, there bein openings to said chamber at the upper en lower portions thereof, a flexible diaphragm cooperating with said chamber, a fluid pressure thermostatc device pressing against one face of the diaphragm, a valve mechanism within said chamber comprisin a piston which engages the chamber wal s, said piston being hollow and open. at both ends, a flange depending from said piston, a ball encircled by the flange, said ball engaging with the flexible diaphragm, the ball being adapted to engage with a portion of the piston to close the opening therethrough, and a fluid ressure thermostat engaging lthe opposite ace of the diaphragm.

5. 'A thermostatic fuel regulator comprising a casing having a chamber therein, openfings communicating with the said chamber adjacent both ends thereof, a flexible diaphragm cooperating with said chamber, a fluid pressure,thermostatic device exerting pressure upon one face of the diaphragm, a valve mechanism within the chamber, said valve mechanism-comprising a hollow pis-v ton which is open at both ends and formed with a circular seat, a ball. adapted to engage with said scatto close the passage through the piston, said ball also engaging with the diaphragm` the piston being provided with a depending skirt which encircles the ball, said skirt having openings formed in said skirt near the upper portion thereof to permit the escape of fuel when ythe ball is not seated, and a Huid pressure thermostat engaging the opposite face of the diaphragm.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT ANTON FROEHLICH.'

Witnesses z F. L. BASEY, GEORGE E. M Yuna 

